Crude bomb blasts, arson attacks in Dhaka aimed at spreading panic: DMP
Police say several people have been arrested as investigations intensify into explosions and attacks on public transport
DSCC launches intensive clean-up drive in 29 wards to prevent dengue
Survey detects larvae in 322 houses
Prabowo gathers 10 former police chiefs amid wiretap investigation
Three icons, one era: The numbers behind Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar
Their combined international statistics paint a remarkable picture of an era that football fans will never forget
With Rooppur's first unit nearing operation, IAEA begins emergency preparedness review
10-member expert team to assess emergency response measures during 11-day mission
Joint funding suggested to sustain community reading parks: MPR
Pakistan first team to reach SAFF Championship semifinals
Pakistan became the first team to book a semifinal berth in the SAFF Championship after 19-year-old striker Najeeb Ullah Khan scored a first-half brace in a commanding 3-0 win over the Maldives at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday.
Agriculture Minister vows to act on 340 reports of irregularities
Indonesian theater group wins jury award at Seoul festival
Man killed after being hit by motorcycle in Jhenaidah
Victim, a rickshaw van driver, dies on the spot; motorcyclist critically injured
High Court gives authorities two more weeks to survey Karnaphuli riverbanks
Court seeks report identifying illegal encroachers following delay in complying with its 2023 order
KAI offers 30 percent discount on for year-end holidays
REHAB calls for an end to unregulated share-based housing business
REHAB cited a recent investigative report that found that, as of September 30, 2026, some 9,823 fraud cases related to land share-based housing projects were pending in court, involving roughly Tk 12,000 crore
Joint SAR teams resume search for two missing Mount Semeru climbers
Godzilla sequel leads North American box office
Godzilla Minus Zero opened at the top of the North American box office on Friday, grossing $14.5 million from 3,254 theatres, well ahead of The Cat in the Hat, which earned $6 million from 4,003 locations.
Indonesia prepares eighth trainset to meet rising Commuter Line demand
Elvis, Eminem rights holders sue AI music generator Suno
Elvis Presley
HC directs BIWTA to clear plastic waste from Buriganga banks
Seeks comprehensive report on pollution by December 14
Indonesian govt tightens checks on subsidized rice after fraud cases
SGH's AI tool wins international award for improving antibiotic use
New ASEAN Society aims to strengthen medical law
Pepperstone and Aston Martin Aramco extend and expand partnership with Fernando Alonso
International concerts boost foreign tourist arrivals: Ministry
Skouw border post enforces All Indonesia arrival declaration
East Kalimantan records 172 hectares of new fires in November
BNPB's Super Puma crashes in Barito River
Jonatan Christie donates Asian Games bonus to fire victims
Jimly urges police chief to implement reform recommendations
Indonesia adopts zero-tolerance approach to year-end transport safety
PAM JAYA develops 103 sites for Jakarta water projects
Circular economy to create millions of new jobs: Minister
IMI to recommend young riders for Asia Talent Cup selection
Jakarta's events hub status boosts tourism, economy: governor
Indonesia lands $138 million in investment commitments from Europe
Indonesia enters second year of rice import independence: Minister
Who is Arjun Rajput? 19-year-old stuns Pakistan with counterattacking century in U19 Asia Cup
When India U19 found themselves in trouble against Pakistans new-ball attack, it wasn't one of the high-profile top-order names who steadied the ship, but 19-year-old Punjab all-rounder Arjun Rajput. His counter-attacking knock under intense pressure at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground was just the latest evidence of a cricketer fast turning into a reliable big-match asset for the national junior setup.
Dragonpass Showcases AI-Powered Travel Experiences and Member Engagement Solutions at ITB Asia 2026
Semarang checks three Chinese workers over immigration violations
Pakistans external debt nearly doubles to $135.1 billion in a decade: World Bank report
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 8 (IANS) Pakistans external debt has nearly doubled over the past decade, climbing to $135.1 billion in 2025 from $68.7 billion in 2015, according to the World Banks International Debt Report 2026. The country's external debt increased by around 4 per cent from $129.9 billion in 2024, according to The Khaama Press News Agency. Of the total external debt, $107.08 billion comprised public and publicly guaranteed obligations, while private-sector borrowing without government guarantees stood at $17.58 billion. Short-term external debt accounted for another $10.45 billion. Multilateral institutions constituted the largest source of public and publicly guaranteed lending, accounting for $56.83 billion, while bilateral creditors held $42.43 billion in outstanding claims. China remained Pakistans largest individual country creditor, with outstanding loans of approximately $22.4 billion. Pakistan also owed around $19.2 billion to the World Bank and $16.83 billion to the Asian Development Bank, as per the report. The report also highlighted the substantial difference in borrowing costs between official and private creditors. New financing commitments from official creditors in 2025 carried an average interest rate of 3.6 per cent, with an average repayment period of 16 years and a grace period of four years. In comparison, new private-sector loans carried an average interest rate of 8.6 per cent, with an average maturity of just three years and a grace period of one year. Pakistans external debt-to-gross national income (GNI) ratio stood at 34 per cent in 2025, while debt-servicing payments consumed 33 per cent of its export earnings, the report stated. During the year, China extended the maturity of approximately $2 billion in loans to Pakistan, providing additional repayment flexibility. Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) disbursed $2.3 billion under its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) programmes. The World Bank report also pointed to rising external debt vulnerabilities across the broader Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP) region. The region's external debt-to-GNI ratio increased to 29.4 per cent in 2025 from 26.7 per cent a year earlier, marking the largest annual increase among the World Bank's regional groupings.
Malaysian held in Batam over suspected armed robbery
Three survive after another firefighting chopper crashes in Kalimantan
Taiwanes national deported after five-month overstay in Indonesia
RI's police detain three fishermen over suspected people smuggling
Govt seeks to sustain economic growth through Q4 stimulus measures
Legal notice asks Pori Moni to apologise over alleged journalist harassment
Lawyer gives actress seven days to issue written apology over November 5 court incident; notice also alleges insult to national anthem
State Grid Shanghai Megacity Biodiversity Report Released at COP17
Casio to Release Lightweight Mechanical Watch with Excellent Readability
Indonesia expects 120 million travelers for year-end holidays
Timely lift as SAFF stakes rise
Despite Bangladesh's narrow win over Bhutan, Morsalin felt the result could keep the team motivated.
Fosun Health Makes Historic Debut at Canton Fair
Intellectual corruption more damaging to judiciary than financial graft: Law minister
Hasina to be brought back under extradition treaty, says Asaduzzaman
It was a dream of mine: Hridoy on record-breaking innings
Hridoy set multiple Bangladesh records, but scoring the country
Indonesia advances transport emissions cuts through UK partnership
Protest over proposed new upazila halts trains, road traffic in Brahmanbaria
Four trains stranded as protesters demand restoration of six villages to Basudeb union and cancellation of proposed administrative restructuring.
Mia Saigon Awarded One MICHELIN Key as Vietnamese-Run Hospitality Joins the Global Stage
Empowered by Digital Intelligence, Fueling Global Collaboration
BNP names Salam convener, retains Tanvir as member secretary of Dhaka South unit
Abdul Kader Bhuiyan Jewel named senior joint convener; former convener Rafiqul Alam Majnu dropped from the reorganised committee
Windies building big lead despite losing openers
Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz struck as West Indies lost two wickets in the morning session of the fourth day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet on Sunday.
Ex-Rangamati Hill Council chairman, Jubo League leader arrested
Police say they were picked up under Operation Devil Hunt over alleged involvement in subversive activities
IND vs PAK U19 Asia Cup LIVE score: India win toss, elect to bat vs Pakistan
India are set to play Pakistan in the ongoing U19 Asia Cup at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman on November 8. Both teams enter the match with strong momentum, having registered dominant victories in their tournament openers.
Defiant Khawaja defends re-igniting ball-tampering scandal
Usman Khawaja insisted Sunday he did not hrow anyone under the bus by claiming the entire Australian team was in on the 2018 Sandpapergate plot and defended taking eight years to go public.
Duchess of Edinburgh to arrive in Bangladesh tomorrow
Sophie to meet president, Zubaida Rahman; visit Rohingya camps and peacekeeping training institute
India vs Pakistan LIVE Score Updates, IND vs PAK U19 Asia Cup 2026: The winner of Sunday's match will nearly seal a top finish in the Group A standings.
U19 Asia Cup: Pakistan strike early; India lose captain Lakshya in first over
Amid protests, France's rising debt costs threaten stability
France plans to spend an extra
India vs Pakistan Live Streaming, U19 Asia Cup 2026 Live Telecast: When And Where To Watch
India vs Pakistan Live Streaming, U19 Asia Cup Live Telecast: India beat Nepal in their opening game while Pakistan defeated UAE in their campaign opener.
Can't cook or shower: Indonesians take aim at data centres
The area had suffered a long drought caused by low rainfall, the local water utility operator told AFP, as a strong El Nino cycle exacerbates dry weather
Impeached Paraguay leader charged over shock implosion of bank
Pena, Paraguay's youngest-ever president, was removed from office by the Senate on Friday, just three days after the collapse of a leading bank with which he had business links
Australian water bombers begin operations to fight fires in Kalimantan
Pakistan-Linked Arms Smuggling Raises Fresh Security Concerns in Punjab
The seizure of sophisticated firearms and explosives in Punjabs Amritsar district has once again The post Pakistan-Linked Arms Smuggling Raises Fresh Security Concerns in Punjab appeared first on Khalsa Vox .
India U19 vs Pakistan U19 Live Streaming: When and where to watch U19 Asia Cup
Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-0 to level leaders Barcelona
Reigning champions Barca visit Atletico Madrid, third, on Sunday, aiming to move back clear of the chasing pack.
Always in our memory': Real Madrid and Valencia honour Jesus de Miguel
Following a floral tribute, the players gathered in a semicircle at the centre of the pitch as the Mestalla crowd rose to applaud in a moving display of solidarity. A minute of silence was then observed, while players from both teams wore black armbands.
Miscreants try to set fire on bus in Mirpur-12
The incident happened around 10:00pm on Saturday under Pallabi Metro Station in Mirpur on a bus of Bihongo Transport
Arsenal edge past Hull to stretch Premier League lead
Arsenal beat stubborn Hull 1-0 to stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points on Saturday while Tottenham's recent revival was halted at Leeds.
Pakistans elite preparing escape abroad as ordinary citizens face mounting hardship: Report
Digital Desk | Islamabad, Nov 7 (IANS) Pakistan is going through a deepening national crisis as its self-serving ruling elite amasses wealth and prepares its escape abroad, while ordinary citizens face mounting economic hardship and a growing loss of hope, a report said. Beneath this growing exodus lies a deeper crisis of corruption, military dominance, and political misrule that has weakened state institutions, diverted national resources, and pushed Pakistan closer to a breaking point, wrote Imran Khurshid, an Associate Research Fellow at the Centre for Peace Studies. Official government figures presented to Pakistans National Assembly revealed that more than 317,000 Pakistanis left the country for employment abroad in the first half of 2026 alone, while over 1.87 million citizens migrated between 2024 and 2026, according to the report published by the Centre for Peace Studies. According to federal audits reported on October 5, more than 2,500 active federal officers have obtained dual nationality, with hundreds of senior bureaucrats concealing their foreign assets. Portugal has emerged as a premier getaway for the elite through residency-by-investment schemes, the report noted. They [bureaucrats] prepared for this while they were employed by the Government of Pakistan, doing so under a deliberate plan. This raises questions about their commitment to their homeland and their jobs during their tenure, Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had stated. The report said that Pakistans Senate passed the Passports (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on October 19, permanently granting retired parliamentarians and senators the right to retain gratis official blue passports for life. Then comes their bossthe militarywhich actually runs the country. The military makes enormous amounts of money by running Pakistan like a real estate company, Khurshid stated. According to the report, the military under Gen Asim Munir is aggressively extracting Khyber Pakhtunkhwas rare-earth minerals and critical metals through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO). This rapid resource exploitation allows the military to embezzle most of the profits, leaving the local population with nothing but environmental destruction, disease, and only a small fraction of the wealth, the report stated. It noted that the ruling elite repeatedly shifts the burden of IMF conditions onto ordinary people, while Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharifs government acquired a Gulfstream G500 private jet valued at between $38 million and $42 million. According to the UNDP 2026 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, nearly 100 million Pakistanis are trapped in acute multidimensional poverty, while up to 7.5 million rural citizens are experiencing acute hunger, the report said. The army has kept the countrys most popular leader, Imran Khan, locked away in Adiala Jail, while violent insurgencies and rebellions tear across Pakistanspanning from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) to Balochistan and Sindh, Khurshid wrote. The report also noted that Pakistan has topped the Global Terrorism Index 2026 for the first time, becoming the worlds most terrorism-affected country. A country cannot sustain itself indefinitely when its elite accumulates the means to escape while its citizens are denied the means to live with dignity, the report stated.
Gunman kills 5, injures 12 in Polands Krakow shooting attack
The gunman aimed at random people as he drove by the city's Main Square, Krakow police said
Hridoy's Houdini act: A knock among Bangladesh
Whatever the final outcome in Sylhet, Hridoy has already ensured that the third day will be remembered as one of the most extraordinary individual performances in the country's cricketing journey.
New mass protests in France as police thwart banned rally
Security forces on high alert amid fears of fresh riots
World Cup final brawl: FIFA reduces Molina
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced the decisions on Friday night, confirming that Molina
2 killed in dump truck-pickup collision in Mymensingh
5 injured; victims
Bonded labour persists in Pakistan as generational exploitation despite laws: Report
Digital Desk | Islamabad, Nov 7 (IANS) Bonded labour continues to exist in Pakistan as a system of generational exploitation sustained by abject poverty, debt and feudal power, with the failure to enforce the law forcing poor people into a life of bondage, local media reported. Bonded labour is modern-day slavery. It exists in Pakistan as a system of generational exploitation sustained by abject poverty, debt, and feudal power, Pakistans Daily Dawn reported. The editorial noted that the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recently praised Pakistan for raising the minimum marriageable age to 18, following its review of Pakistans second periodic report. However, questions about the high numbers of child brides and bonded labour eclipse the compliment, it said. Underage marriage is enslavement, while the purchase of bricks produced through debt bondage by construction companies and government groups continues to sustain the curse of bonded labour. Lifespans rarely outlast the loans driven up by interest charges. Generations inherit a cycle of debt and abuse, the report noted. According to the report, the scourge does not spare children, who begin life in inhuman working and living conditions, while entire families slog for pathetic sums far below the legal minimum wage. The Constitution outlaws all forced labour and slavery, and the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1992, criminalises the practice. Yet, the failure to enforce the law and insufficient efforts to bridge the distance between constitutional rights and their fulfilment have forced poor people into a life of bondage, Dawn said. Punjab has over 210,000 documented kiln workers, while more than 2,900 victims of forced labour were recorded last year, the report said. According to The State of Peasant Rights in Sindh, 2025, 1,311 labourers in the province were rescued from brick kilns and the farm sector. Patterns of enforcement are reactive and often set off by media attention or judicial intervention. Injustices verbal abuse, beating, murder, and torture prevail because spot inspections are absent, the report stated. As per the National Commission for Human Rights, women routinely experience sexual abuse and forced marriages, it said. Law enforcement and political quarters are notorious for protecting the perpetrators, instead of ensuring legal implementation. Systemic coercion will keep Pakistan from becoming a humane state, the editorial added.
BGB foils BSF 'push-in attempt' along Moulvibazar border
Says BSF attempted to send 20 people across the border under the cover of darkness and dense fog
Chilli growers lose money despite bumper harvest
Jamalpur farmers lose Tk 6 on every kg sold
EU-Indonesia strengthen higher education collaboration through EHEF
Aaryavir Sehwag vs Ali Raza in focus as India U19 look to settle scores vs Pakistan
Aaryavir Sehwag vs Ali Raza in focus as India U19 look to settle scores vs Pakistan
Muizzus Pakistan visit sparks debate in Maldives
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 7 (IANS) Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzus recent visit to Pakistan has sparked a debate in the island nation, with opposition leaders expressing concerns that closer security cooperation with Islamabad could strain Maldives ties with India, a report has stated. It argued that the reactions reflect broader differences over how Male should navigate its regional partnerships. The ties between India and the Maldives nosedived following President Mohamed Muizzus India Out campaign and differences over the presence of Indian military personnel in the island nation. While bilateral relations have improved since then, Muizzus visit to Pakistan underscores Males continued efforts to expand its diplomatic and security partnerships, according to a report in the 'International Centre for Peace Studies.' The State Visit of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu to Pakistan from 20 to 22 October 2026 marked a significant development in South Asian diplomacy, reflecting Islamabads efforts to expand its presence in the Indian Ocean and Males pursuit of a more diversified foreign policy. The first visit by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in eleven years coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Maldives, the report detailed. During the visit, the two sides exchanged 20 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) covering defence, maritime security, trade, education, healthcare, agriculture and fisheries. They also pledged to increase bilateral trade from approximately $13.9 million to $200 million within two years. While economic cooperation remained central to the discussions, the defence and maritime dimensions of the visit have attracted attention in New Delhi because of the Maldives strategic location in the Indian Ocean, it added. The report observed that Muizzus visit serves as a reminder that India cannot take its geographical proximity and historical ties with the Maldives for granted amid growing competition in the Indian Ocean. It noted that Pakistans renewed outreach, although limited in its practical implications, reflects Islamabads willingness to exploit diplomatic openings and build strategic relationships in Indias immediate maritime neighbourhood. Meanwhile, the Maldives is signalling its intention to exercise its foreign-policy autonomy by engaging with multiple partners. Indias response, therefore, must be neither alarmist nor dismissive. It must combine strategic vigilance with diplomatic maturity, economic responsiveness and credible security cooperation. Ultimately, Indias influence in the Indian Ocean will depend not on its geographical centrality alone, but on its ability to remain the most dependable, responsive and consequential partner for its maritime neighbours, the report mentioned.
Bihar: Two held in East Champaran for cyber fraud linked to Pakistan
Digital Desk | Patna, Nov 7 (IANS) Bihar Police have arrested two men in East Champaran district for allegedly operating a cyber fraud network linked to Pakistani nationals and facilitating suspicious financial transactions through Indian bank accounts and QR codes. The arrests were made during simultaneous raids at two rented houses in the Belisarai area late Saturday. Police recovered two Android mobile phones and five ATM cards from the accused. Digital evidence, including Pakistani WhatsApp numbers, suspicious conversations and financial transaction records, was also found on their mobile phones. Superintendent of Police (SP) Swarn Prabhat on Saturday said a special police team led by Sadar SDPO-1 Dilip Kumar conducted the raids around 1:20 a.m. on Saturday following a tip-off. According to preliminary investigations, the accused were allegedly in contact with Pakistani nationals and were operating under their instructions. They reportedly received money into Indian bank accounts through QR codes and subsequently transferred the funds to other accounts. During the examination of their mobile phones, police discovered WhatsApp numbers linked to Pakistan and suspicious conversations indicating their alleged involvement in the financial network. The accused have been identified as Pankaj Gupta, a resident of Semmuapur under Dumariyaghat police station, and Raju Kushwaha alias Raju Kumar Bhagat (22), a resident of Shyampur Barwa under Sangrampur police station. Both were staying in rented accommodation in Belisarai. Police recovered five ATM cards, including three issued by Federal Bank, one by IDFC First Bank and one by Bank of India. The cards were registered in the names of Raju Kumar and Raju Kumar Bhagat. Investigators suspect that the bank accounts were being used to receive and withdraw money generated through cyber fraud before transferring it elsewhere. The seized mobile phones and ATM cards have been sent for further examination. Police are also analysing the bank accounts, transaction records and digital communications to establish the scale of the suspected operation. The investigation is focused on identifying the Pakistani contacts, tracing the financial transactions, determining the total amount routed through the accounts and establishing whether the network had connections across multiple states. Police are also examining the possible involvement of other individuals in the racket. The raiding team included Sadar DSP-1 Dilip Kumar, Inspector Rajiv Ranjan, Sub-Inspectors K.V. Hanumanta, Santosh Kumar and Satish Kumar, along with Jamadar Bhim Yadav, female constable Putul Kumari and other police personnel. Further investigation is underway to establish the complete network and identify its alleged masterminds.
